17th April, 2012
International Tennis Federation, ITF, instructor, Susan Dyrbus, has revealed that ITF will donate wheelchairs, racquets and balls to the country’s wheelchair tennis players.
Susan disclosed this at the just concluded three-day Johan Cruif Foundation wheelchair Tennis Clinic.
She said for the development of the sport in the country, wheelchair tennis should spread to other parts of Nigeria in order to get more players involved.
“Nigeria has promising wheelchair tennis players; having watched some of them qualified the country for the World Team Cup, the ITF was indeed impressed with them. And in collaboration with the Silver Fund, it will see to it that facilities are donated to these players for the development of their game.
“The sport seems to be gaining prominence only in Lagos State. But, we’re looking at a situation, where the sport will spread to other parts of the country so that others will participate as wel”, she said.
Susan, who also played tennis for England, said that Nigerian players can hold their owns against their counterparts outside the country at any level.
“I think the players can match their foreign counterparts. You should know that for them to have qualified for the World Team Cup in Korea, they must have performed very well. There are lots of talents here and we hope to see more of them at international tournaments”, she said
She also said that, there will be ITF-organised tenni tournaments for wheelchair tennis players in the country in the near future.
Meanwhile, the national coach of wheelchair tennis team, Frank Termena, described the ITF clinic as a positive development for wheelchair tennis in the country.
Frank reasoned that it was a timely visit for the wheelchair tennis players, especially at a time when Nigeria has qualified for the World Team Cup and the Paralympics.
Frank said: “This visit was timely and we hope to have more of it, as Nigeria has qualified to participate at the Paralympics and the World Team Cup.”
He also told Tennis Special that the players will be embarking on training tour, beginning with a trip to Libya on 23 April, where he’ll be helping the country to build wheelchair tennis alongside the players.
“We’ll be embarking on a training tour of Libya and the players will be there representing the country. But I’ll be there as an ITF instructor to assist in building the country’s wheelchair tennis”, he concluded.
—Taiwo Adelu